Australian police charge seven for making Nazi salutes
Group makes gesture at club for Croatian expats, sparking condemnation from president of institution in Victoria’s Geelong
Australian police on Wednesday charged seven men who allegedly performed Nazi salutes during a gathering at a club for Croatian expats.
Police in the state of Victoria said the men — six of whom are in their twenties, and one of whom is 19, according to local reports — had been photographed making the “prohibited gesture” on February 8 at the Croatian Club of Geelong.
“The charges follow an extensive investigation into an image circulating online which depicted a group of men performing the prohibited gesture,” police said in a statement.
“All seven men have been charged on summons for public display or performance of Nazi symbols or gestures.”
Croatian Club president Frank Sarcevic said earlier this month he was “absolutely disgusted with this behavior and extremely disappointed.”
Australia passed tough anti-hate crime laws earlier this month, including potential jail time for giving a Nazi salute in public, in a bid to tackle a recent surge in antisemitism.
BREAKING: Police have charged seven Geelong soccer players with publicly displaying the Nazi salute in a crackdown on antisemitic gestures. https://t.co/6qBmY3IzEG @tyra_stowers #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/6uVr01JWwN
— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) February 26, 2025
Jewish organizations and hate researchers have recorded drastic spikes in hate-fueled incidents against Jews in Australia since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel — when thousands of terrorists invaded the Jewish state, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages — triggering the subsequent war in the Gaza Strip.
These have included several arson attacks on synagogues and community centers in Sydney and Melbourne, and the repeated spraying of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel graffiti on properties or vehicles in areas with large Jewish populations. January also saw a neo-Nazi rally near the Melbourne parliament.
